Monday 26th March 1917

‘L’ Camp, near Poperinghe

The weather again turned much colder, and very wet in the morning. Training continued; there were also the finals of the inter-Battalion boxing competitions, although planned cross-country runs were postponed due to the wet weather.

A number of men joined the Battalion from 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, having originally been posted out on 4^th March to join 9DWR. Pte. George Green (22749) was a 34 year-old labourer from Todmorden. Pte. Joseph Livesey was a 30 year-old millworker from Springhead, near Oldham; he was married with one daughter. He had originally attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 but had not been called up until December 1916. Pte. Harold Precious was 40 years old and had been the Principal of H. Precious, Dyers and French Cleaners, in Bradford. He had enlisted under the Derby Scheme in November 1915 but had not been called up until 16^th November 1916. However, he had failed to report to Bradford Recruiting Office as instructed and, on 27^th November, a police officer had visited him at home. In his report PC Maurice Barker reported that, “At 8.45am Monday 27^th November 1916 I visited the house at 21 Cranborne Road, where I saw Precious and I said to him I am going to take you into custody for failing to report yourself to the Bradford Recruting Office after receiving final notice. He replied, ‘I should have reported myself on 16^th and I have been expecting you coming’. I took him in to custody and brought him to the Town Hall, where I charged him with the offence. He replied, ‘That’s true’”. Precious had been duly brought to court the same day and been fined £2. Having failed to pay the fine, he was given eleven days’ imprisonment and it was ordered that the fine be deducted from his army pay. He had then been immediately sent to the Regimental Depot at Halifax under military escort. Having spent three months in training with 3DWR he had also, in February, been reported absent off his final pass for three days before reporting back to barracks at North Shields.

Pte. Albert John Start (see 27^th January), serving on Base Duties at 34^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples; was, for third time, admitted to hospital suffering from influenza; on this occasion he was admitted to 2^nd Stationary Hospital at Abbeville.

Pte. James Edward Simpson (see 17^th March), who had been in England since having been wounded on 5^th July, was posted back to France and would join 2^nd/6^th DWR.

Following one months’ treatment for influenza, Pte. Joseph Renshaw (see 26^th February) was discharged from the City of London Military Hospital; he would have ten days’ leave before reporting to 3DWR at North Shields.

A payment of £3 10s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl. James Gordge (see 5^th March), who had been officially missing in action since 10^th July 1916; the payment would go to his widow, Mary Ann.